New Concord student finishes in top 40 in Scripps National Spelling Bee

Published: May 29, 2014 11:15 AM

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NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. -- A student from East Muskingum Middle School was tripped up by picking "c" instead of "s" while spelling "demersal" in the semi-finals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Harry Harman spelled two words correctly in the first two rounds of the Bee to advance to the semi-finals.

"Demersal" is defined as something living at or near the bottom of a body of water; or sinking to or being deposited near the bottom of a body of water.

Trent Cubbison, assistant principal at East Muskingum Middle School, had said he cannot remember another district student having ever advanced to the national level in a spelling bee.

Harry earned the trip to Washington when he competed on March 22 in the regional bee hosted by Ohio University. He was named the Region 1 winner after he spelled “exacerbate” correctly in the 18th round of competition to beat out 54 other contestants from 26 counties in southeastern Ohio.

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In the national competiton, Harman competed against 281 spellers from across the nation and made it to the top 40.

The Little Muskie student is no newcomer to bee competitions, having participated in geography and history bees in addition to spelling bees.

Last year, in fact, he qualified for the national level in history bee competition, but chose not to travel to Washington.

“He’s a very intelligent, young man,” said Susan Larson. “I learn from him daily.”

Larson is the gifted intervention specialist at East Muskingum.

“He is extremely motivated and he has very supportive parents,” Larson said. “Both are professors at Muskingum University.”